It was time to start moving. Poseidon had already made a few important connections in the other universe and while he should have been good and happy just staying in his own world, it was just too enticing a pearl to not pluck out of the oyster. The other world didn’t have a SUPER agency, it didn’t have any organized protection like that, at least not that he could gather. At most it was the government and police officials and those could
easily be bought off according to reports. With the rift open for at least three months now, it was time to start moving before things became even more complicated.
Jorge had always been a man to have several plans in the works. He never liked to be caught unawares and preferred to have contingency after contingency set up. While he already have River working on a rather massive failsafe plan, in the meantime he had another job in the works. Putting both River and Duke on the case, Jorge sent the both into the other world to retrieve something extremely important to his plans, something for which he would need if he wanted to his plans to succeed – allies.
Yes, Poseidon had already made some rather strong connections from the other side, he still needed assistance. While his own manpower was significant, what he needed were anchors, people on the other side of the rift who fought for the mutant cause but needed a banner to be rallied under. From his own research, and that of River’s extensive search on the other side’s internet, there had been such an organization, several actually, but they ultimately all fell through. Leaders disappeared, members scattered to the winds, truly a tragedy to watch the dream of mutant supremacy fall – but that also meant that there was a vacuum, a spot set aside for the right people with the right vision.
The Order. The closest to what the Syndicate was, though their leadership floundered before they faded in obscurity. Ragnarok. Unbiased destruction, unfortunately, also meant that destruction of mutant kind. The Kabal…well…better left unsaid. Either way, there was a need for his organization, a space for it in this new world, a world with less restrictions, where SUPER did not sink its claws into each and every aspect. Eventually, SUPER would, but it was a race against time – and Jorge knew he had the advantage.
Sitting behind the desk of his office, the watermancer looked up from the files he had in his hand. Months of compiled research, each and every bit of it with a planned use in the coming tactics. The only thing he needed now was an army.
A knock to his door. Lifting his gaze, the man stood up from his chair, buttoned the jacket of his black suit, and maneuvered around his desk. A sly grin crossed his lips as he already knew what would be waiting for him on the other side. His hand brushed down, smoothing his soft black and silver beard. Upon reaching the door, he turned the knob and pulled it open to find both his most trusted assistants – Duke Manchester and River Red Fish.
“Sir,” Duke said with a nod. River nodded to, a small smile on her lips.
”My lady and gentleman,” he said. Stepping back, he made an elegant wave with his hand towards the interior of his office.
”Tell me you have my early Christmas presents ready?”Duke grinned as he walked in. When the door was closed, he nodded his head as he lifted up the USB drive. “All here.”
“Was simple. Once Duke got into the server room, all he had to do was plug me in.” River interjected with a smirk. “Their firewalls are crap.”
Jorge chuckled and nodded his head. Taking the USB from Duke he held it up, looking it over carefully as he made his way back to his desk. He gestured for the other two to take a seat as he moved around his desk and plugged the USB into his computer. It had been an effort to get both Duke and River to the other side but, once they did, it seemed that their mission had been a rousing success. After he plugged the USB into the port, he could see his computer already beginning to decrypt the extensive amount of files that had been brought to him.
As it reached 56% completion, he turned back to the other who were seated and silently waiting.
”Did either of you have any trouble?”Duke shook his head. “One tried to ask what I was doing there. I knocked him out cold.” He then nodded to his side, where River sat. “River had the security cameras in my locales pretty snowed up, though. Aside from the guy’s vague description, there’s no evidence of me there.”
”Good, good…” Jorge said as he turned back to the screen. When it pinged that it was done, he raised his hands in success. Two clicks and all the files opened before him.
”Excellent work. With Hades ‘s assistance, Charlie Sinclair ‘s knowledge of the other world, and Chrysanthemum Van Hart ‘s vast company, I think we’re ready to start Phase Two.”River sighed as he looked between Duke and Jorge, her mechanical eye finally settling on him. “Sir. I don’t mean to second guess…but they are not from here. Are sure they can be trusted?”
Jorge scoffed. While normally such a comment would have pulled a rather harsh rebuttal from him, at the moment he was in too good of a mood. Besides, both Duke and River were his trusted allies and he knew that if anyone had the right to question him, it was those two. They had seen enough of the Syndicate to know to always ask for what was best.
”My dear…I don’t trust anyone…” He gave her a sadistic smile. Another click and the files finished opening up on screen.
”But that doesn’t mean I can’t use them. Besides, they prove to be traitorous…” he shrugged his shoulders.
”…I’m sure you two will be the first to notify me.”Jorge sighed as he sat back, looking over all the open pages on his computer screen. They photographs along with several other sheets of scanned information, all of which was not for the eyes of the public. They were official documentation, arrest records, last known whereabouts, etc., every bit of information that the institution currently had on them.
”This is all of them?” he asked with a smile.
Duke nodded. “MRC’s Most Wanted files, ranging between now and when they first started digital archiving.” He paused as Jorge looked over the various police records.
“I’ve also been scanning the internet over there for various keywords concerning mutant supremacy, anti-human rhetoric, pulled information on the owners of those IP addresses.” River said. “As you requested.”
”Perfect. Added to your previous research concerning our competitors, that should fill the last gaps.” Jorge sighed, closing his eyes and smiling as he caught the whiff of oncoming success. His eyes then fell back onto the screen as he muttered to himself.
”Then lets get the invitations flowing.”Duke stood up and headed out of the room, already knowing his part in what was to come. River, however, stayed back. She stood up, quietly, but paused as he rested her eyes back upon her boss.
Jorge didn’t look up to her, but still spoke.
”Yes, my dear?”“I added another file in there for you, sir.” She said. “While I was plugged into the MRC server, I took a side route and…I found…everything about
him. I figured you’d want it asap.”
Jorge’s eyebrows lifted. Opening the files again, he dug until he found the specific one that she was referring to. His lips twisted into a wide, diabolical grin. A small breath of satisfaction fell from him as he eyed River again. With a nod of his head, his gratitude showing, he waved for the young Sioux to live and continue her own tasks. Resting back in his seat, he grinned as he opened the file and stared at the image that greeted him.
”Well, well, well…” He whispered to himself, reading the reports and information that was available to him now.
”Detective Cervantes. How lovely it will be to learn about you…”
